16: Concubine Duan Xu Qingluan

Chapter 16 Consort Duan Xu Qingluan

Jiaotai Hall.

Emperor Zhengyong tapped the table with one hand and asked, "Big Companion, how is Shadow performing?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, Shadow... is very happy."

"Happy... Ah, he should be happy, after all, it is also his child."

When saying this, Emperor Zhengyong instinctively clenched his fists.

Wang Zhongyi hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, this servant has something to say, though I do not know if I should..."

"What is it?"

"If Consort Shu and Consort Bi give birth to a dragon son, what about the Empress Dowager and the Empress?"

Wang Zhongyi said in a low voice, all the while sizing up Emperor Zhengyong's gaze.

"The Empress is the Empress after all. It would be fine if Consort Shu and Consort Bi do not give birth to a dragon son, but if they do, he will surely be the crown prince. If the Empress Dowager and the Empress..."

"Big Companion, I know what you mean..."

Emperor Zhengyong let out a long breath and said, "Forget it, forget it. Entrusting Consort Shu and Consort Bi to Shadow was merely to test whether he could give birth to a dragon son for Us."

"Since he has the ability, then... as for the Empress Dowager and the Empress, it can only be so."

"Consort Bi is a mere commoner with no background whatsoever. Even if she gives birth to a dragon son, she cannot protect him."

"As for Consort Shu, her father is Yang Xuansu. Once she gives birth to a dragon son, Yang Xuansu will surely push him to be the crown prince."

"The Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the maternal relatives will inevitably push back."

"For the sake of Our Great Yu realm, the Empress must have a child."

"And... it must be a dragon son!"

"this servant understands."

Wang Zhongyi bowed and left quickly. Soon, a eunuch from the Jingshi Department hurried in.

"Your Majesty, please flip a tablet~"

Perhaps because two consorts in the imperial palace were pregnant, the tone of the Jingshi Department head's voice carried a hint of lightness.

Emperor Zhengyong reached out to flip a tablet, then suddenly froze: "Where is the Empress's tablet?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, the Empress has her monthly period and cannot attend to Your Majesty these past few days."

"Heaven's will?"

Emperor Zhengyong shook his head and casually flipped a tablet.

"Let it be here tonight."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Jingshi Department head quickly left to give notice so that the consort whose tablet was flipped could prepare.

...

Xianfu Palace.

Consort Duan Xu Qingluan was practicing martial arts in the training field opened within the palace.

She wandered around the training field with a single saber. The Yanling saber in her hand fluttered up and down, and even a harsh frictional sound came from the air.

"Hah!"

Then she let out a delicate shout, and the Yanling saber in her hand slashed diagonally across, creating a streak of Saber Qi in the air ahead, which momentum smoothly cut a wooden stake used for martial arts practice into two sections!

Consort Duan Xu Qingluan was the daughter of Xu Mujun, the commander of the Longxiang Army, and had loved brandishing sabers and spears since childhood.

Moreover, Xu Mujun doted on Xu Qingluan immensely, teaching her all of his martial arts skills.

Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber!

By now, Consort Duan Xu Qingluan's strength had already stepped into the First Grade Realm!

Three years ago, Xu Qingluan answered the imperial decree to enter the palace and was bestowed the title 'Consort Duan'.

Her title could be said to contain the expectations of Xu Mujun and Emperor Zhengyong, hoping that she could be dignified and virtuous.

Unfortunately... Consort Duan still went her own way, unable to fulfill their wishes.

"Hoo..."

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, she finally stopped, her chest rising and falling slightly.

The two palace maids waiting on the side immediately stepped forward, one wiping away sweat and the other respectfully presenting tea.

Looked at closely, Consort Duan was not supremely beautiful, but looked somewhat heroic and valiant.

However, her figure was extremely slender, especially her long legs and waist.

Set off by the specially made lightweight practice attire, she appeared even more nimble and heroic.

Xu Qingluan took a sip of tea, looked at the few eunuchs at the entrance of the training field, and asked: "Jian Yu, what people are those?"

The little palace maid wiping sweat on the side said pleasantly: "Congratulations, Your Ladyship, congratulations, Your Ladyship! Those are people from the Jingshi Department. Tonight Your Majesty has flipped your tablet..."

Hearing this, Xu Qingluan frowned, a trace of disgust lingering deep within her eyes.

If not for her father's command, how would she ever enter the palace to become a consort?

What she hoped for was still the battlefield and the Martial Forest!

Especially when thinking of the gloomy-eyed Emperor Zhengyong and the rumors of this period, she could not muster any affection for Emperor Zhengyong no matter what.

However...

She was Xu Mujun's daughter after all. Thinking of those words her father said to her when entering the palace, she could only shake her head and say:

"I know. Wash up for me."

"Yes... Your Ladyship!"

Late at night, Zheng Yi also walked towards Xianfu Palace under the guidance of Wang Zhongyi.

"Father-in-law, where are we going tonight?"

"You will know when we arrive."

Wang Zhongyi said: "Tonight's Ladyship is not easy to serve. Speak less after finishing things, and don't let her discover any clues~"

"Not easy to serve?"

Zheng Yi asked strangely: "Are there people in the back palace who are not easy to serve?"

"You'll know in a moment~"

Guided by Wang Zhongyi, Zheng Yi quickly arrived before a palace gate with towering city walls.

The strange thing was that at the entrance of the back palace halls located within the imperial palace, there were actually two arrow towers!

"This, this..."

Zheng Yi also discovered the oddity and instinctively looked towards those two arrow towers.

"Xianfu Palace? Consort Duan?"

Wang Zhongyi then said: "Consort Duan comes from a military background and has loved brandishing sabers and spears since childhood. His Majesty dotes on her as well, and specially ordered people to rebuild a part of Xianfu Palace into an army camp for Consort Duan."

"This... truly is doting..."

"His Majesty has arrived~!"

With a shout from Wang Zhongyi, a group of eunuchs and palace maids immediately swarmed around a tall maiden wearing a moon-white palace dress as she walked out.

"This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Seeing this maiden's appearance, Zheng Yi's eyes suddenly lit up.

This woman... is so tall!

From Zheng Yi's perspective, Consort Duan's height was at least around one meter seventy-five.

Especially that pair of long legs; they were truly the most perfect cannon racks!

As expected of Xu Mujun's daughter, she was rumored to have practiced martial arts since childhood, and he wondered how her strength was.

After waiting several breaths without seeing Zheng Yi speak, Wang Zhongyi immediately gave him a secret nudge.

"Uh... Ahem, Beloved Consort, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Consort Duan said softly, rising gracefully.

After getting closer, Zheng Yi realized that this maiden's gaze was aloof and her expression indifferent. Walking with a still towering figure, it made Zheng Yi's eyes stare straight.

Queen!

She totally had that queen aura!

This pair of long legs—if she had stockings, they would simply be top-grade!

Coupled with high heels...

As expected of an emperor, with three palaces and six courtyards, so many top-grade women were waiting for his favor.

Even just for so many women in the back palace, Emperor Zhengyong... must die!!!

"Beloved Consort, the night is deep. Accompany Us to rest."

Only at this moment did Consort Duan's face flush slightly, making her look all the more stunningly beautiful beyond compare.

However, she still took a deep breath and bravely walked up: "Your Majesty, this... this concubine will change your clothes for you..."

More than half an hour later, a surge of Pure Yin Qi rushed into the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.

Clear handwriting appeared on the mirror surface once again.

[ Absorbed Pure Yin Qi, lifespan + 19. ]

[ Absorbed Pure Yin Qi, learned "Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber". ]

[ Absorbed Yin Qi, "Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber" Internal Energy + 10. ]

[ Absorbed Yin Qi, bone structure enhanced. ]

"Hmm?"

Zheng Yi's big hand suddenly paused, "Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber"?

Bone structure enhanced?

This is an enhanced version of Bi He and Consort Shu's.

He immediately turned Consort Duan over, who had her back facing him.

"Your Majesty?"

"Beloved Consort, We will teach you a new way to play."

"Ah?"